Stonefish – Australian to the bone

Peter Papanikitas, the MD of the renowned Australian wine label Stonefish Wines, made a quick visit to Pattaya last week. Tahe occasion was the Stonefish Wine event, held in the Pedro Gastrobar of the Hotel Vista on Soi 4 Second Road, celebrating the slew of medals won by the label in the latest wine shows in China and Hong Kong.

The guests represented some of Pattaya’s well known Pattaya gourmets as Dieter Precourt, as well as Rick and Harpic, and overseas wine connoisseurs such as Philippe Guenat. In between there were numerous other hotel personnel, restaurant owners, and even a golf club executive plus a horde of elegant women dressed in the fashionable black cocktail outfits.

Several food stations around the Pedro Gastrobar with a great range of tapas kept the guests’ interest, and included a bacon mini-quiche and smoked salmon from Scott Tanner’s MJ Smokehouse.

MC of the evening was Dr Iain Corness who reminded the guests of Ogden Nash’s immortal lines, “Candy is Dandy, But liquor is quicker!” and then took a walk down Australia’s memory lane with such dreadful alcoholic apologies as Barossa Pearl and Cold Duck. Fortunately, Australia managed to get over these offerings to graduate to being one of the most prolific wine producers in the world with high quality wines such as Stonefish.

Peter Papanikitas enlarged on the styles of his wines, and also informed the guests of some of the recent gold medals his wines have received, and why. He is very proud of the achievements that his small wine company has managed to achieve in the past decade, and for the following that his wines have internationally (represented in Thailand by Wine Dee Dee). His favorite was the Stonefish Reserve Shiraz 2010, Barossa Valley, and after experiencing the mellow smoothness of this wine, it was the favorite of most people that evening.

The evening had begun with a light-hearted sparkler, the Stonefish Brut Cuvee which was effervescent enough to lift any jaded palates, yet not too much bubbles to make it like a soda.

The second wine (of six) was the Stonefish Sauvignon Blanc (Margaret River), a creamy white with a refreshing finish. The third wine was also from the Western Australia’s vineyards and was the Stonefish Chardonnay, and one that I personally found very appealing. Not too ‘woody’ and very nicely balanced.

Tony Malhotra, of Pattaya Mail poses for a photo with Wipawan and Scott Tanner from MJ’s Smokehouse.

Guests include Pattaya celebrities as well as numerous other hotel personnel, restaurant owners and even golf club executives plus a horde of elegant women dressed in fashionable cocktail outfits, all had a great time.